The Unusual Pet and Avian Veterinarians (UPAV) Conference is the flagship event in UPAV’ss Continuing Professional Development program. It is the must‑attend gathering for avian and exotic vets across the country.
Featuring world‑class speakers, cutting‑edge science, and hands‑on skills workshops, the conference delivers practical, relevant learning that can be taken straight back to daily clinical practice. It is also where new research is shared, ideas are challenged, and the future of avian and exotic veterinary practice is shaped.
Above all, the conference is a place to connect—bringing colleagues together to learn, share experiences, and strengthen the professional community that supports avian and exotic vets in Australia.
2026 Conference
Save The Date
The 2026 Unusual Pet and Avian Veterinarians (UPAV) Conference, Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 November, 2026 at the Novotel Melbourne on Collins. In 2026, UPAV are again teaming up with the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Australasian Committee (AAVAC) to bring you two back-to-back conferences, same state, same city and same venue!
Call for Abstracts
We are inviting submissions for 30-minute abstract presentations (inclusive of question time) for both the veterinary and dedicated nursing streams at this year’s conference. We encourage you to share this opportunity with any colleagues or veterinary nurses who may be interested.
Abstracts should focus on exotic companion mammals, herpetological, aquatic and/or other unusual pets and may cover topics in medicine, surgery or related areas of veterinary practice. Case reports, case series and focused topic presentations are all welcome.
Submissions will be reviewed and selected based on relevance, audience interest and overall program balance. The convening committee reserves the right to accept or decline submissions and to invite additional topics or presenters where appropriate.
We are also inviting submissions for 60-minute masterclass presentations (inclusive of question time), designed to provide in-depth, practical insights into specific topics.
Please submit your abstract only of your proposed presentation for consideration to elaine.robertson@ava.com.au by Monday, 18 May 2026.
We are excited and honoured to announce that Associate Professor Dr Vladimír Jekl will be our International Keynote speaker in Melbourne for our 2026 UPAV conference.
Lock the dates of 23 – 25 November 2026 into your diaries, we can’t wait to welcome you all!
More information coming soon.
2025 Conference
In 2025, UPAV joined forces with the Australian Small Animal Veterinarians (ASAV), the Australian Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), the Australian Veterinary Conservation Biology group (AVCB) to organise the 50th ASAV Annual Conference.
The conference celebrated the theme of connection across species, disciplines, and the veterinary profession, bringing together small animal, dental, conservation biology, unusual pet, and avian veterinarians, and highlighted the value of collaboration, shared learning, and cross-disciplinary perspectives.
Set against the backdrop of tropical Far North Queensland, the event combined scientific education, professional networking, and social engagement, creating opportunities to strengthen existing relationships, build new connections, and celebrate the animals that bring the profession together.
